[betty boop]

He claims they are fanatical men who identify with a tribe, nation, church or cause, and espouse its credo uncritically, contrary to self interest & reason.

I think what Koestler was noticing, tpaine, was something that Cardinal John Henry Newman cryptically described in the following words: "Oh how we hate one another for the love of God."

That's certainly real enough, in historical terms. However, I would like to point out that, for Christians, this is a total violation of both of the fundamental commandments (laws) of the Christian dispensation. FWIW.

[tpaine]

He claims they are fanatical men who identify with a tribe, nation, church or cause, and espouse its credo uncritically, contrary to self interest & reason.

I think what Koestler was noticing, tpaine, was something that Cardinal John Henry Newman cryptically described in the following words: "Oh how we hate one another for the love of God."

Crypical? Seems like rare bit of honesty to me. Excessive religious/political fervor are closely connected, just as Koestler aptly wrote, and Newman in a sense agrees.

That's certainly real enough, in historical terms. However, I would like to point out that, for Christians, this is a total violation of both of the fundamental commandments (laws) of the Christian dispensation. FWIW.

Actually, its worth little to merely comment that violations are common, - then to continue on arguing that we must have more religious input into society/government.

The reverse is true. We must insist upon more respect for our non-sectarian constitutional law.